Multivariate assessment of heavy metals in river water from Novi Pazar area

Surface water pollution has become a serious global problem, particularly pollution caused by heavy metals. This study focused on ten heavy metals (Fe, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in the water of the Raška River in the vicinity of Novi Pazar city, located in the southwestern part of Serbia, and on the investigation of the processes and activities governing these pollutants in the study area. Three multivariate statistical methods were applied, including principal component analysis supported by Pearson correlation analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. The results indicated the presence of two principal components, which explained the vast majority of the variance in the dataset, accounting for 93.9%. It was determined that the occurrence of heavy metals in the study area is influenced by both natural processes, such as soil and rock weathering, and anthropogenic activities, including municipal and domestic wastewater discharge and agricultural activities. These results highlight the importance of identifying the main factors controlling heavy metal distribution in surface waters, as this provides a better understanding of water quality and supports more effective monitoring and management.